NCAI Resolutions Process

NCAI members establish the organization’s positions on issues that affect tribal nations and Native people through a resolutions process. NCAI resolutions are one of the policy mechanisms used to express the organizational positions on tribal, federal, state, and/or local legislation, litigation, and policy matters that affect tribal governments or communities.

The resolutions passed by the organization cover a broad range of topics and are equally important for providing direction to the organization and as advocacy tools with policy makers.

A resolution is one of the policy mechanisms utilized by NCAI to express the consensus positions of member tribes on tribal, federal, state, and/or local legislation, litigation, or policy matters that affect the welfare and rights of American Indian and Alaska Native governments or communities.

NCAI resolutions may address regional or local tribal issues when the issue would set a precedent impacting other tribes.

In June 2002, NCAI adopted aPolicy Statement that addresses the organization’s general stance on a broad array of issues including tribal sovereignty, treaty rights, the federal trust responsibility, health, housing, education, environmental quality, and physical, spiritual, traditional, and cultural customs and practices of American Indians and Alaska Natives. These matters need not be addressed by separate resolution because they are covered by the 2002 Policy Statement and remain an intrinsic focus of the organization’s work.

According to the NCAI Standing Rules of Order, Section XIII, “Resolutions must be of a general nature to advocate the best interests of all American Indians and Alaska Natives. Resolutions that take one side between two conflicting tribes are not in order.”